![\"Penry](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1785834851_302_Penry_Buckley.png\")
Penry Buckley<\/p>\nMinns government will not implement recommendation of long-awaited hate speech reportPenry Buckley<\/p>\n
The NSW government will not expand a controversial offence for inciting hatred to include religion, sexual orientation or gender identity, against the recommendation of a report which it has been sitting on for eight months.<\/p>\n
In a statement this afternoon, the NSW attorney general, Michael Daley, said the government was today releasing the report by former supreme court justice John Sackar, first provided to the government in November.<\/p>\n
In the report, Sackar has recommended that section 93ZAA of the NSW Crimes Act, an offence for inciting hatred on the grounds of race, brought in last year against the recommendation of the NSW Law Reform Commission, be \u201camended to included all attributes currently protected by section 93Z\u201d.<\/p>\n
Section 93Z, the offence for inciting violence, covers offences committed on the basis of someone\u2019s race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex or HIV\/Aids status.<\/p>\n
Daley said:<\/p>\n
double quotation markAfter careful consideration of the Sackar Review and its recommendations, the NSW Government has decided not to expand the existing criminal offence of inciting racial hatred to apply to additional protected attributes.<\/p>\n
There is no place for hatred in NSW. Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected and free from intimidation, regardless of their background, faith, sexuality or identity.<\/p>\n
The Government\u2019s view is that expanding the racial hatred offence to cover other attributes raises complex questions about freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and the consistent application of the criminal law across the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a002.01 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n What we learned, Tuesday 4 August<\/p>\n That\u2019s where we\u2019ll leave our live coverage for the day.<\/p>\n Before we log off, let\u2019s recap the top headlines:<\/p>\n NSW police have arrested and charged two men <\/a>after one of them allegedly brandished a fake replica gun, wearing a bulletproof vest with a US flag and carrying a toy police badge, at a busy Sydney entertainment precinct.<\/p>\n Australian firefighter and former commissioner of Fire and Rescue New South Wales, warned<\/a> an incoming El Ni\u00f1o combined with significant fuel loads could contribute to bushfires in Australia.<\/p>\n Top NSW officials urged people to avoid the emergency department<\/a> except in cases of extreme health needs, warning the next three weeks will see hospitals at capacity amid a surge in winter illness.<\/p>\n Thomas Bradley, a Queensland supreme court judge, will be appointed Queensland\u2019s new governor.<\/a> Bradley will replace the former state chief health officer Jeannette Young, who has served in the role since 2021.<\/p>\n Matt King described the NSW State of Origin team as the \u201clove of his life\u201d after being named as <\/a>Laurie Daley\u2019s<\/a> permanent replacement<\/a> as the new Blues head coach.<\/p>\n Betting giant Sportsbet said it has no evidence to substantiate allegations<\/a> made in Monday\u2019s hearing about the Albanese government\u2019s gambling bill, including that gambling companies provided illegal drugs and sex workers to customers.<\/p>\n The new Victorian premier, Ben Carroll, has had his new cabinet sworn in today<\/a> in what appears to be a major shake-up to portfolios.<\/p>\n Australians lodged nearly 120,000 complaints <\/a>with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority in the most recent financial year, a record number that reflects the intense economic pressures being felt across the community.<\/p>\n An expert warned it\u2019s too late to vaccinate St Kilda\u2019s little penguins<\/a> that are at risk of bird flu.<\/p>\n NSW\u2019s shadow attorney general told the Icac\u2019s Operation Rosny inquiry<\/a> that he introduced a friend who made alleged prohibited donations. Damien Tudehope also admitted to leaking a confidential draft report<\/a> from a parliamentary inquiry to a member of the Reformers.<\/p>\n Australia\u2019s share market is trading at a five-month high<\/a>, led by a strong rally by the major banks and a subdued oil price.<\/p>\n The Australian Medical Association Victoria branch said doctors will engage in a stop-work action<\/a> on Thursday 13 August, affecting hospitals across the Melbourne CBD and in Parkville. It\u2019s the first time doctors have taken protected industrial action in the area in 20 years.<\/p>\n The chief executive of the Bureau of Meteorology has commissioned an independent review<\/a> of the agency to \u201censure it delivers value to Australians in a rapidly changing environment\u201d.<\/p>\n Thanks for joining us, see you bright and early tomorrow morning!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.36 EDT<\/p>\n NSW government accused of denying LGBTQ+ communities equal protection after rejecting Sackar report key recommendation<\/p>\n The Minns government has been accused of denying LGBTQ+ communities equal protection from hate after announcing it would not implement a key recommendation from a report it sat on for 8 months.<\/p>\n The NSW government released the long-awaited report on Tuesday and announced it would not expand a controversial offence and criminalise inciting hatred on the grounds of religion, sexual orientation or gender identity.<\/p>\n This went against a key recommendation of the report, which was written by former supreme court justice, John Sackar, and recommended that section 93ZAA of the NSW Crimes Act, which criminalises inciting hatred on the grounds of race, be expanded.<\/p>\n Equality Australia said of the decision:<\/p>\n double quotation markThe government said that expanding the existing racial hatred offence to cover other attributes raised complex questions about freedom of expression and religion.<\/p>\n The government has already shown it can balance these rights when it comes to racial hatred.<\/p>\n Claiming that the same approach cannot apply to other communities is disingenuous, creating an inconsistent legal framework and a hierarchy of protections.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.35 EDT<\/p>\n Witness claims Dominic Perrottet knew brother was in Fiji during parliamentary inquiry, watchdog hears<\/p>\n The NSW Liberal shadow attorney general, Damien Tudehope, has concluded giving his evidence to the Icac\u2019s Operation Rosny.<\/p>\n In the latter stages, questioning from counsel assisting, Peggy Dwyer SC, focused on a parliamentary inquiry which preceded Icac\u2019s current inquiry.<\/p>\n The inquiry has heard last week that Jean-Claude Perrottet, brother of the then Liberal premier, Dominic Perrottet, travelled to Fiji to avoid appearing before the parliamentary inquiry, which was not known publicly at the time.<\/p>\n Tudehope has admitted to discussing the details of Jean-Claude\u2019s location with Dominic Perrottet:<\/p>\n double quotation markI did have a discussion with Dom at one stage, and it was a very casual discussion \u2026 I just said, \u2018Where is Jean-Claude?\u2019 And he said he didn\u2019t know. But then, on a subsequent discussion, I think he may have told me he was in Fiji.<\/p>\n Dominic Perrottet is not accused of any wrongdoing, while Jean-Claude Perrottet has previously denied any wrongdoing.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.22 EDT<\/p>\n Senior NSW Liberal admits to leaking confidential report to Reformers Returning to the NSW Icac\u2019s Operation Rosny:<\/p>\n The shadow attorney general, Damien Tudehope, has admitted to leaking a confidential draft report from a parliamentary inquiry to a member of the Reformers.<\/p>\n Tudehope was asked if he could recall coming into possession of a confidential draft copy of the inquiry\u2019s report in February 2023, when the Liberals were still in government. He said he could not, but said he was aware of the obligation to keep a draft report confidential.<\/p>\n Counsel assisting, Peggy Dwyer SC, was shown an email in which he had sent the report as an attachment to Reformer Jeremy Greenwood.<\/p>\n double quotation markDwyer: Did you send that report in draft to Mr Greenwood?<\/p>\n Tudehope: It appears that I did.<\/p>\n Dwyer: Why did you do that?<\/p>\n Tudehope: Oh well, I thought he would have had an interest in that report.<\/p>\n Dwyer: What was your purpose in providing it to Mr Greenwood?<\/p>\n Tudehope: Its contents.<\/p>\n Asked what his purpose was in providing the report to Greenwood, Tudehope said he did not know what Greenwood did when he received it, and does not know if he would have shared it with fellow Reformer Jean-Claude Perrottet. \u201cThat would have been a decision for him,\u201d said Tudehope.<\/p>\n Damien Tudehope arrives to give evidence during the Icac Operation Rosny hearings in Sydney. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a002.53 EDT<\/p>\n Carers and advocates give evidence at Support at Home inquiry<\/p>\n The Senate Community Affairs Committee inquiry into aged care Support at Home reforms heard evidence of lengthy waits for assessments and funding, reduced access to care, and a growing burden placed on unpaid carers.<\/p>\n Dementia Australia advocate Lynda Henderson, a key participant in a working group established by the Department of Health<\/a> to advise on the reforms told the inquiry she felt \u201cpersonally cheated\u201d by the decision to use algorithms to determine funding outcomes, without any capacity for human override.<\/p>\n She said the survey known as the Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT) was designed to support clinicians in assessing individual needs, not to replace the professional judgement of qualified assessors.<\/p>\n Guardian Australia previously reported Henderson\u2019s story<\/a> and the impact of the IAT<\/a>, which is underpinned by an algorithm to determine government funding.<\/p>\n \u201cI now feel personally cheated as well as horrified by the numbers of incorrect assessment results produced by these algorithms and the consequences of those,\u201d Henderson told the inquiry.<\/p>\n Representatives from Dementia Australia told the committee in their submission that \u201ca national crisis is unfolding in Australia\u2019s aged care system\u201d.<\/p>\n Their national survey found 94% of professionals reported dementia-related needs were not being fully captured through the assessment process.<\/p>\n Shadow health minister Senator Anne Ruston said; \u201cEvery story we have heard reinforces that aged care cannot be reduced to forms, queues and computer-generated decisions\u201d.<\/p>\n Read more:<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Independent review of Bureau of Meteorology announced The chief executive of the Bureau of Meteorology has commissioned an independent review of the agency, to \u201censure it delivers value to Australians in a rapidly changing environment\u201d.<\/p>\n In November, the BoM publicly apologised for how it handled its new website launch \u2013 the first redesign in a decade. Guardian Australia revealed<\/a> that the full cost of the website overhaul was approximately $86m, which came after years of delays and millions in cost blowouts.<\/p>\n That followed an attempted rebrand<\/a> in 2022, and allegations of a toxic workplace culture<\/a>.<\/p>\n The review, which will inform the BoM\u2019s next strategic plan, to come into effect in late 2027, will assess the \u201ceffectiveness of public communications and responsiveness to stakeholder needs\u201d.<\/p>\n The environment minister, Murray Watt, said the review would \u201cbring an independent perspective to understanding the services being delivered and how that value can be strengthened into the future\u201d.<\/p>\n The BoM chief executive, Dr Stuart Minchin, said the review would help the agency \u201cbetter understand current and future customer needs\u201d, adding:<\/p>\n double quotation markOur work underpins essential services, economic activity, environmental health and community wellbeing, for all Australians every day, so it\u2019s important we get it right.<\/p>\n A report by the review panel is expected by 31 March.<\/p>\n Bureau of Meteorology CEO Dr Stuart Minchin. Photograph: ParlViewShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a002.37 EDT<\/p>\n More than 1,500 Brisbane children experienced homelessness in past year<\/p>\n At least 1,539 children from 984 families are known to have spent time homeless in Brisbane in the last year.<\/p>\n The statistics were collated by Brisbane Zero, a collaboration between 28 government and non-government organisations.<\/p>\n About 40% of the almost exclusively female-led households became homeless as a result of relationship breakdown; 38% due to violence at home. The average age of the head of household was 25; 72% had experienced at least one health or substance abuse issue in the last year.<\/p>\n The numbers only include homeless people who are known by name.<\/p>\n Acting chief executive officer of Micah Projects Bridget Kinch said the statistics were heading in the wrong direction. She said:<\/p>\n double quotation markI think the housing crisis, the unaffordability for people, I think there\u2019s a lack of housing pathways for people.<\/p>\n I think we\u2019ve seen that improve in the first half of this year, so it\u2019s great to see that happening but the concern is where\u2019s the rest of the stock or the places for people.<\/p>\n In the past year 2,326 individuals experienced homelessness, 985 of them for the first time. In that time 261 of them found housing, with 90 returning to homelessness from housing.<\/p>\n Several homeless people also died in Brisbane in the last year, though they are not included on the list.<\/p>\n A tent housing a rough sleeper in Brisbane’s Musgrave Park. Photograph: Madeline Begley\/The GuardianShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a002.12 EDT<\/p>\n NSW hate speech report released after lengthy parliamentary battle<\/p>\n Following on from our previous post:<\/p>\n The release of the Sackar report at the start of a busy sitting week and in the middle of a landmark Icac inquiry into corruption in the NSW Liberal party comes after a long-running battle to have the report released by the opposition and crossbench.<\/p>\n The premier, Chris Minns, had refused to release it before the cabinet made a policy decision, amid growing speculation about what it contained.<\/p>\n Earlier this year, the NSW upper house passed a unanimous motion, unopposed by Labor, under a procedure known as standing order 52 (SO52), which requires the government to release documents.<\/p>\n The government returned a five-page document, containing five letters from senior public servants and chiefs of staff in the premier\u2019s, attorney general\u2019s and police minister\u2019s offices, all of them certifying that \u201cno documents covered by the terms of the resolution and lawfully required to be provided are held by The Cabinet Office or the Premier\u2019s Department\u201d.<\/p>\n The upper house subsequently voted to suspend Labor minister John Graham. More recently, it sought legal advice about whether the document was in fact \u201ccabinet in confidence\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a002.03 EDT<\/p>\n Minns government will not implement recommendation of long-awaited hate speech report The NSW government will not expand a controversial offence for inciting hatred to include religion, sexual orientation or gender identity, against the recommendation of a report which it has been sitting on for eight months.<\/p>\n In a statement this afternoon, the NSW attorney general, Michael Daley, said the government was today releasing the report by former supreme court justice John Sackar, first provided to the government in November.<\/p>\n In the report, Sackar has recommended that section 93ZAA of the NSW Crimes Act, an offence for inciting hatred on the grounds of race, brought in last year against the recommendation of the NSW Law Reform Commission, be \u201camended to included all attributes currently protected by section 93Z\u201d.<\/p>\n Section 93Z, the offence for inciting violence, covers offences committed on the basis of someone\u2019s race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex or HIV\/Aids status.<\/p>\n Daley said:<\/p>\n double quotation markAfter careful consideration of the Sackar Review and its recommendations, the NSW Government has decided not to expand the existing criminal offence of inciting racial hatred to apply to additional protected attributes.<\/p>\n There is no place for hatred in NSW. Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected and free from intimidation, regardless of their background, faith, sexuality or identity.<\/p>\n The Government\u2019s view is that expanding the racial hatred offence to cover other attributes raises complex questions about freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and the consistent application of the criminal law across the community.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a002.01 EDT<\/p>\n EV sales, air travel drive rebound in consumer spending<\/p>\n Australian households show no sign of pulling back on spending despite the Middle East conflict exacerbating cost-of-living concerns, AAP reports.<\/p>\n Strong growth in electric vehicle purchases and a bounce back in air travel drove a surprisingly strong 0.8% increase in household spending in June, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.<\/p>\n Analysts had been expecting a rise of just 0.2% in the month.<\/p>\n Spending growth was driven by a 3% rise in transport spending in the month, where new vehicle sales stood out.<\/p>\n The ABS head of business statistics, Tom Lay, said:<\/p>\n double quotation markElectric vehicle sales increased significantly over the year and have continued that trend in June, accounting for a growing share of overall new vehicles sales as households adjust their spending behaviour in response to rising fuel prices.<\/p>\n EV sales doubled in the space of three months as the Middle East conflict disrupted oil supplies and sent fuel prices soaring, the Australian Automobile Association said on Sunday.<\/p>\n Lower fuel prices in June also supported spending on air travel, which returned to pre-Iran war levels.<\/p>\n Electric vehicle charging. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.37 EDT<\/p>\n That\u2019s all from me. Achol Arok will take things from here. Take care.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Victorian doctors to go on strike for first time in 20 years<\/p>\n The Australian Medical Association Victoria branch said doctors will engage in a stop-work action on Thursday 13 August, affecting hospitals across the Melbourne CBD and in Parkville. It\u2019s the first time doctors have taken protected industrial action in the area in 20 years.<\/p>\n The action, centred on a pay dispute, will occur from 12.30pm to 4pm alongside some statewide actions across all health services. Hospitals affected include the Royal Melbourne hospital and the Royal Children\u2019s and Women\u2019s hospitals.<\/p>\n AMA Victoria said the industrial action had been carefully designed to protect patient care, with a spokesperson adding:<\/p>\n double quotation markParticipating doctors will work with their hospitals to ensure appropriate arrangements are in place so that patient care is not compromised.<\/p>\n Many doctors will remain working instead of taking industrial action specifically so that their colleagues can participate in the action without compromising patient care.<\/p>\n Doctors working in emergency departments and those in other, critical frontline services will not participate in the stop-work action.<\/p>\n AMA Victoria president Simon Judkins told the ABC doctors had tried to negotiate a better pay deal for a year, saying many had reported \u201cincredibly high levels of fatigue and stress, and they\u2019re incredibly worried in those conditions about whether they might be prone to making errors\u201d.<\/p>\n Victorian doctors will strike on Thursday 13 August. Photograph: Xv Studio\/Getty Images\/500pxShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.52 EDT<\/p>\n Antisemitism royal commission hearing evidence about police, protests<\/p>\n The royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion has resumed public hearings, with the next block of evidence to focus on protests and policing.<\/p>\n Richard Lancaster SC, counsel assisting justice Virginia Bell, said the hearing would focus on protests held outside the Sydney Opera House on 9 October 2023<\/a> and by neo-Nazis outside NSW parliament on 8 November 2025<\/a>.<\/p>\n Lancaster said multiple people had told the commission that the Opera House protest was \u201ca critical event in the rise of antisemitism\u201d in Australia.<\/p>\n Sydney Opera House. Photograph: David Gray\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n He said one witness told the commission it was \u201cshattering of our physical and psychological sense of safety in this country\u201d a sentiment \u201cechoed by many other Jewish Australians\u201d.<\/p>\n Lancaster also said there was a large body of evidence before the commission showing that protesting against Israeli military action in Gaza or showing humanitarian concern for civilians killed in the Middle East conflict was not antisemitic.<\/p>\n The first witness, David Ossip, the president of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, said he respected the right of people to protest in support of Palestine.<\/p>\n But he said the timing of the rally, which started at Sydney town hall before ending at the Opera House, was insensitive, given the events of 7 October.<\/p>\n Acting deputy commissioner of NSW police, Peter McKenna, said that while he understood the \u201cheightened emotions\u201d regarding conduct at the rally, there were no concerns about community safety. He said:<\/p>\n double quotation markWhen I spoke to police on the ground, they did not have a concern that this protest would get out of control.<\/p>\n The hearing continues.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.39 EDT<\/p>\n Charity cyclist who just finished 5,200km MND fundraising ride dies aged 82<\/p>\n Bob Montgomery, a charity cyclist who recently finished a 5,200km bike ride from Broome to Bowral, died on Monday at the age of 82.<\/p>\n His family confirmed his death on social media, saying he had died unexpectedly just a day after completing the cycling feat as a fundraiser for motor neurone disease, alongside his grandson, Tom. They wrote:<\/p>\n double quotation markThis was Bob\u2019s sixth interstate fundraising ride in support of Motor Neurone Disease NSW, raising vital funds and awareness for a cause that was deeply personal to him. Fittingly, and now poignantly, the ride was named One Last Ride.<\/p>\n At 82 years of age, Bob was still passionately sharing his message only hours before his passing.<\/p>\n Allow Instagram content?<\/p>\n This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click ‘Allow and continue’.<\/p>\n MND NSW shared a tribute saying the body was \u201cdeeply saddened\u201d by the sudden passing, calling Montgomery a \u201ccherished friend and tireless supporter of MND NSW\u201d.<\/p>\n The group\u2019s CEO, Liam O\u2019Meara, said in a statement:<\/p>\n double quotation markFor many years, Bob dedicated himself to raising vital funds and awareness for people living with motor neurone disease. His most recent achievement, riding from Broome to Bowral at the age of 82 alongside his 18-year-old grandson, was nothing short of inspirational.<\/p>\n Bob understood that behind every diagnosis is a person and a family navigating one of life\u2019s most challenging journeys. His fundraising helped ensure that more people could access the care, equipment and support they need, when they need it most.<\/p>\n![\"Jordyn](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Jordyn_Beazley,_L.png\")
Jordyn Beazley<\/p>\nPenry Buckley<\/p>\nPenry Buckley<\/p>\n![\"Melissa](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Melissa_Davey2.png\")
Melissa Davey<\/p>\n![\"Donna](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Donna_Lu.png\")
Donna Lu<\/p>\n![\"Andrew](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Andrew_Messenger.png\")
Andrew Messenger<\/p>\nPenry Buckley<\/p>\nPenry Buckley<\/p>\n![\"Nick](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Nick_Visser.png\")
Nick Visser<\/p>\n![\"Nino](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Nino_Bucci.png\")
Nino Bucci<\/p>\n